Class Reunion Rentals in Chicago: Chairs, Tables and Timing

A guide to renting chairs and tables for a Chicago-area class reunion in a rented hall, restaurant banquet room or school gym, with tips on guest-count uncertainty.

November 6, 2026 · 5 min read · By the Beyond Chiavari team

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A class reunion is a different kind of party to plan than a wedding or a birthday. Nobody sends a save-the-date a year out, half the guest list replies in the last two weeks, and the venue is often a rented hall, a restaurant banquet room or even the old school gym rather than a space built for events. The planning committee usually does this once every five or ten years, so it helps to have a plan that doesn't depend on guessing right on the first try.

Guest-count uncertainty is normal

Reunions reply late. People wait to see who else is going, travel plans change, and a chunk of the list usually confirms in the final week or two. Rather than treating your early RSVP count as final, set a realistic low and high range and tell us both numbers when you book. We can hold a flexible order and confirm the final chair and table count closer to the date, instead of locking in too early and scrambling to add more later.

Venue type	What you usually get	What you typically rent
Rented hall or VFW-style space	Bare room, sometimes house tables	Chairs, tables, linens
Restaurant banquet room	House tables and chairs often included	Extra chairs, linens, maybe a sign-in table
School gym	Open floor, no furniture	Full chair and table order, plus a stage or riser if needed

Round tables vs. long tables

Reunions are built around mingling, catching up with people you haven't seen in years, and that usually favors round tables over long banquet rows. Round tables of 8 or 10 let small groups talk without shouting down a long table, and they make it easier for people to move between tables during the night. Long tables work better for a sit-down dinner with a program, or for a smaller, tighter-knit graduating class that wants to sit together as one group. See our tablecloth size chart once you know your table count, and our how many chairs do I need guide for sizing the full order.

Round tables spread across the floor encourage mingling, with sign-in near the door and a small stage for a welcome.

Decor you add yourself

Most reunions lean on nostalgia: old photos, yearbook pages, class colors, a slideshow running on a loop. We handle the chairs, tables and linens, and you bring the decor that makes the room feel like your class. If you want a dedicated table for photos or a memory wall, plan it into your table count early so it doesn't get squeezed in at the last minute.

Timing around the venue's own schedule

A rented hall, restaurant or school gym usually has its own schedule of other bookings before and after yours. Confirm your load-in and load-out window with the venue directly, and pass that window to us so delivery and pickup happen inside it. School gyms in particular may only be available outside school hours or on a weekend, so double check with the school's office on exact access times.

1Step 1Book the venue firstThe space often decides table shape and furniture needs.
2Step 2Set a guest-count rangeA low and high estimate, not one fixed number.
3Step 3Choose round or long tablesBased on mingling versus a seated program.
4Step 4Confirm the load-in windowMatch our delivery time to the venue's own schedule.
5Step 5Lock the final countUpdate us one to two weeks out as RSVPs settle.

Guests per round table: 8 or 10; Guests per round table
Out: when to confirm final count: 1 to 2 wks; Out: when to confirm final count
Common venue types: 3; Common venue types
Numbers to give us: low and high guest estimate: 2; Numbers to give us: low and high guest estimate
Decor we claim to supply: 0; Decor we claim to supply

Chicago-area notes

If your reunion is in a school gym or a hall without its own loading dock, check our delivery and loading zone guide for how street loading works nearby. And if the night runs into bad weather, see our winter event rental delivery guide for what changes when there's snow or ice on the ground.

Frequently asked questions

How do I plan rentals when I don't know the final guest count?

Give us a low and high estimate when you first book, and we'll hold a flexible order. Confirm the final number one to two weeks before the event so we can adjust the chair and table count without starting the order over.

Should a class reunion use round or long tables?

Round tables of 8 or 10 work best for mingling, since smaller groups can talk easily and people can move between tables. Long tables suit a sit-down dinner with a program or a smaller class that wants to sit together.

Does a restaurant banquet room still need rental chairs?

Often not, since most banquet rooms include their own house tables and chairs. You may still want a few extra chairs, a sign-in table or linens, so check with the restaurant on what's included before you order.

Can rentals be delivered to a school gym?

Yes, as long as the school confirms access hours and an entrance for delivery. School gyms usually have no furniture of their own, so plan on a full chair and table order.

What decorations do you provide for a reunion?

None. We handle chairs, tables and linens. You bring photos, yearbook pages, class colors and anything else that makes the room feel like your class.

How far ahead should a reunion committee book rentals?

As soon as the venue and date are set, even before the final guest count is known. Booking early holds your date, and we can firm up the exact count closer to the event.

Plan your reunion

Tell us your venue, your guest-count range and your load-in window, and we'll build a flexible rental plan around it. Book a free 15-minute seating call or request a quote to get started.

Ready to rent?